Heather O'Rourke

Heather O'Rourke

O'Rourke in her last production, Poltergeist III
Born December 27, 1975(1975-12-27)
San Diego, California, US
Died February 1, 1988(1988-02-01) (aged 12)
San Diego, California, US
Cause of death Cardiac arrest
Septic shock
Intestinal stenosis
Resting place Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery
Other names Heather Michelle O'Rourke[1][2]
Occupation Actress
Years active 1982–1988
Notable works Poltergeist film trilogy
Relatives Tammy O'Rourke (sister)
Website
www.heatherorourke.net

Heather O'Rourke (December 27, 1975 – February 1, 1988)[3] was an American child actress who played Carol Anne Freeling in the Poltergeist film trilogy and made several television guest appearances. O'Rourke died due to medical error, and her death had long-lasting effects on her family and the media industry.

Contents

Personal life

O'Rourke was born on December 27, 1975 in San Diego, California, the second daughter of Kathleen O'Rourke.[3][4] Before O'Rourke's death in 1988, her mother married James "Jim" A. Peele.[5] The family lived in Lakeside, California at the time of her death.[6]

Career

In a contemporary interview with American Premiere magazine, director Steven Spielberg explained that he was looking for a "'beatific' four-year-old child...every mother's dream" for the lead in his 1982 horror film Poltergeist.[7] While eating in the MGM commissary,[4] Spielberg saw five-year-old Heather O'Rourke having lunch with her mother[3] while sister Tammy O'Rourke was shooting Pennies from Heaven. After his lunch, Spielberg approached the family and offered Heather the Poltergeist role; O'Rourke was signed the next day, beating out Drew Barrymore[8] for the role.[6]

The Poltergeist films

In the Poltergeist trilogy, O'Rourke played Carol Anne Freeling, a young suburban girl who becomes the conduit and target for supernatural entities. The New York Times noted that she had played the key role in the films and commented, "With her wide eyes, long blonde hair and soft voice, she was so striking that the sequel played off her presence."[4] During the production of the original Poltergeist, Spielberg twice accommodated the child actress when frightened. When scared by performing a particular stunt, Spielberg replaced O'Rourke with a stunt double wearing a blonde wig; and when disturbed by the portrayal of adult abuse toward the child characters, Spielberg did not require she perform the take again.[9] For her work in Poltergeist, O'Rourke earned between US$35,000–$100,000.[10] O'Rourke played the role in all three films.[1] The Carol Anne character was the only member of the Freeling family to appear in the third film, Poltergeist III.[3]

O'Rourke's delivery of the lines "They're here!" in the first film, and "They're baa-aack!" in the second (that film's tagline), placed her in the collective pop culture consciousness of the United States.[11]

Television work

After her work in 1982's Poltergeist, O'Rourke secured several television and TV movie roles. In April 1983 she starred as herself alongside Morey Amsterdam and well-known Walt Disney animated characters in the hour-long television special, Believe You Can ... and You Can![12][13] She also appeared in CHiPs, Webster, The New Leave It to Beaver, Our House, and had a recurring role on Happy Days as Heather Pfister.[4] In the television movies Massarati and the Brain and 1985's Surviving: A Family in Crisis, she played Skye Henry and Sarah Brogan, respectively.[1]

Death

O'Rourke became ill in early 1987 and was misdiagnosed by Kaiser Permanente Hospital as having Crohn's disease. She was prescribed medicine to treat the disease, which allegedly "puffed up [her] cheeks."[6] On January 31, 1988, O'Rourke suddenly became ill again, vomiting and unable to keep anything down. The next morning she collapsed while preparing to leave for the hospital and her stepfather called paramedics. O'Rourke suffered a cardiac arrest en route to the hospital, and after resuscitation she was airlifted by helicopter to Children's Hospital and Health Center in San Diego,[6] where she died later that afternoon.

Speaking to reporters, O'Rourke's manager David Wardlow initially announced that it was believed O'Rourke died of influenza.[14][15] However, hospital spokesman Vincent Bond announced that O'Rourke died during surgery to repair an acute bowel obstruction (caused by congenital stenosis of the intestine[16]) complicated by septic shock;[4][17] this report was corroborated by the San Diego County coroner's office on February 3, two days after her death.[18] Later reports changed the specific cause of death to cardiac arrest caused by septic shock brought on by the intestinal stenosis.[16][19]

O'Rourke was interred at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery on February 5, 1988. Her tomb is a scheduled stop for "Haunted Hollywood" tours.[20]

Lawsuit

On May 25, 1988, Sanford M. Gage, the O'Rourke family attorney, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Kaiser Foundation Hospital in San Diego. O'Rourke had been seen by doctors at Kaiser since birth, and the suit claimed that they failed to properly diagnose her long-standing small-bowel obstruction: had they not simply treated her for Crohn's disease with prescription drugs, she could have been cured by means of a simple operation;[21][22] and this misdiagnosis caused O'Rourke's death.[23] Kaiser Permanente spokeswoman Janice Seib responded: "We have reviewed the case extensively, and we believe that the diagnosis and the course of action taken by our physicians was entirely appropriate. It's a very complex case, complicated by a number of factors, and not given to any simple answers."[6] The case went to arbitration and was settled out of court for an undisclosed sum.[24]

Lasting ramifications

O'Rourke's death complicated Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's marketing for her last work, Poltergeist III, out of fear of appearing to be exploiting her death.[25] Tom Skerritt and Nancy Allen, O'Rourke's co-stars, were discouraged from giving interviews about the film to avoid questions about O'Rourke's death.[26] O'Rourke died four months before the theatrical release of Poltergeist III, which was dedicated to her memory.[27]

O'Rourke's death (as well as four others) has been attributed to a supposed curse on the Poltergeist films and those associated with them; this urban legend supposedly stems from a real human skeleton used as a prop in the first film.[28] According to backstage personnel, the ghost of O'Rourke herself haunts Paramount Pictures' stage #19, where she filmed episodes of Happy Days.[29]

On September 26, 2008, DirecTV began airing a national TV advertisement developed by Deutsch; directed by Erich Joiner and cinematographed by Daniel Mindel,[30] the advert features O'Rourke's famous "They're here!" scene from Poltergeist blended with contemporary footage of her co-star, Craig T. Nelson, intended to mimic the film. After the advertisement drew criticism from bloggers and columnists for exploiting O'Rourke,[31] DirecTV responded in a Q&A session with readers of The New York Times. Jon Gieselman, DirecTV's senior vice president for advertising and public relations, explained that O'Rourke's family "was involved in the spot from start to finish [and that] Heather’s mother not only approved, [...] she also commented that Heather’s inclusion was a wonderful tribute to her daughter."[32]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Heather O'Rourke". The New York Times. New York City, US: Arthur Ochs Sulzberger, Jr.. Archived from the original on 2011-03-02. http://www.webcitation.org/5wtlmWJSs. Retrieved 2008-08-06. 
  2. ^ "Heather O'Rourke Biography". Yahoo! Movies. Sunnyvale, California, US: Yahoo! Inc.. Archived from the original on 2011-01-10. http://www.webcitation.org/5veCgcm71. Retrieved 2011-01-10. 
  3. ^ a b c d Erickson, Hal. "Heather O'Rourke". allmovie. Macrovision. Archived from the original on 2011-01-10. http://www.webcitation.org/5veCpm4Iz. Retrieved 2011-01-10. 
  4. ^ a b c d e "Heather O'Rourke, 12; Starred in 'Poltergeist'". The New York Times (New York City, US: Arthur Ochs Sulzberger). 1988-02-03. ISSN 0362-4331. OCLC 1645522. Archived from the original on 2011-05-20. http://www.webcitation.org/5ypmLllPX. Retrieved 2011-05-20. 
  5. ^ "O'Rourke's Stepfather Sought In Child Support Case". San Jose Mercury News (San Jose, California, US: Knight Ridder): p. 1B. 1988-02-04. ISSN 0747-2099. OCLC 10553708. 
  6. ^ a b c d e Maury Povich (1988) (YouTube). A Current Affair (Television production). WNYW, New York City, US: 20th Century Fox. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=au-QUyjOF7A. Retrieved 2009-02-09. 
  7. ^ Spielberg, Steven; Royal, Susan (2000). "Steven Spielberg in His Adventures on Earth". In Friedman, Lester D.; Notbohm, Brent (Google Book Search). Steven Spielberg: Interviews. Jackson, Mississippi, US: University Press of Mississippi. p. 88. ISBN 9781578061136. http://books.google.com/books?id=5E80Tv7F3zIC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA84. Retrieved 2009-11-23. 
  8. ^ Simpson, Paul; Rodiss, Helen; Bushell, Michaela (2004) (in British English). The Rough Guide to Cult Movies (2 ed.). London, United Kingdom: Rough Guides. p. 115. ISBN 9781843533849. 
  9. ^ Brode, Douglas (2000) [1995]. "Poltergeist" (Google Book Search). The Films of Steven Spielberg (2 ed.). New York City, US: Citadel Press. pp. 103–104. ISBN 9780806519517. http://books.google.com/books?id=OrEnpK9BZIUC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA99. Retrieved 2009-11-22. 
  10. ^ "Money". Money (New York City, US: Time Inc.) 11: 140. 1982. ISSN 0015-8259. 
  11. ^ People Magazine (2007). People: Gone Too Soon: Remembering 65 Celebrities Who Died Too Young (illustrated ed.). New York City, US: Time Home Entertainment. p. 89. ISBN 9781933821177. 
  12. ^ Cotter, Bill (2009-05-31) [1997]. The Wonderful World of Disney Television: A Complete History (illustrated ed.). New York City, US: Disney Hyperion. p. 10. ISBN 9780786863594. 
  13. ^ "Miss O'Rourke, Morey Amsterdam in TV special". Indiana Gazette. Associated Press (Indiana, Pennsylvania, US): p. 5. 1983-03-19. 
  14. ^ "'Poltergeist' Star Heather O'Rourke Becomes Ill, Dies". The Post-Standard (Syracuse, New York, US: Stephen A. Rogers). 1988-02-03. 
  15. ^ "Poltergeist` Actress, 12, Dies Heather O`Rourke Thought To Have Flu". The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, North Carolina, US: Ann Caulkins): p. 3A. 1988-02-03. 
  16. ^ a b Baker, Bob (1988-05-26). "Suit Blames Doctors in Death of Young Actress". Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California, US: Tribune Company): p. 35. ISSN 0458-3035. OCLC 3638237. http://articles.latimes.com/1988-05-26/news/mn-5241_1_young-actress. Retrieved 2008-08-07. 
  17. ^ Folkart, Burt A. (1988-02-03). "`Poltergeist' Star Heather O'Rourke Dies at Age of 12". Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California, US: Tribune Company): p. 3. ISSN 0458-3035. OCLC 3638237. Archived from the original on 2011-05-17. http://www.webcitation.org/5ylIybx3x. Retrieved 2011-05-17. 
  18. ^ Naunton, Ena (1988-02-04). "Child Actress's Death A `1-In-Million' Event". Akron Beacon Journal (Akron, Ohio, US: Andrea Houston Mathewson): p. A14. 
  19. ^ "People". St. Louis Post-Dispatch (St. Louis, Missouri, US: Lee Enterprises): p. 2A. 1988-05-26. 
  20. ^ Epstein, Dan (February 2007). "Access Hollyweird" (in San Francisco Bay Area, US). Revolver (United States: Future US) (53): 89. ISSN 1527-408X. 
  21. ^ Baker, Bob (1988-05-26). "Suit Filed in `Poltergeist' Actress' Death". Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California, US: Tribune Company): p. 2. ISSN 0458-3035. OCLC 3638237. 
  22. ^ Conconi, Chuck (1988-05-27). "PERSONALITIES". The Washington Post (Washington, D.C., US: Katharine Weymouth). ISSN 0190-8286. 
  23. ^ Speers, W. (1988-05-26). "Hospital Sued Over Child Star's Death". The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US: Brian Tierney): p. D02. ISSN 0885-6613. 
  24. ^ Carroll, Richard (2005-03-07). "Battling over culpability, calculating the price of a life" (re-published). Los Angeles Business Journal (Los Angeles, California: California Business Journals). ISSN 0194-2603. 
  25. ^ "Studio Unsure How To Market Latest 'Poltergeist' Movie". Lexington Herald-Leader (Lexington, Kentucky, US: Knight Ridder): p. J5. 1988-03-27. ISSN 0745-4260. 
  26. ^ Cieply, Michael (1988-03-21). "MGM Ponders Selling of `Poltergeist III'". Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California, US: Tribune Company): p. 6. ISSN 0458-3035. OCLC 3638237. 
  27. ^ Van Heerden, Bill (1998). Film and Television In-Jokes: Nearly 2,000 Intentional References, Parodies, Allusions, Personal Touches, Cameos, Spoofs, and Homages (illustrated ed.). University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, US: University of Michigan Press. ISBN 9780786404568. 
  28. ^ Karl, Jason (2007). "Prominent Figures of the Paranormal" (in English) (Google Book Search). An Illustrated History of the Haunted World. London, UK: New Holland Publishers. pp. 138–139. ISBN 9781845376871. http://books.google.com/books?id=2FXOagNuv0wC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA108. Retrieved 2009-11-23. 
  29. ^ Rottman, Eric (February 2004). "Ghost World". Los Angeles (Los Angeles, California,: Emmis Communications) 29 (2): 20. ISSN 1522-9149. 
  30. ^ Stasukevich, Iain (October 2008). "Short Takes: Paying Homage to Hit Films". American Cinematographer (Hollywood, Los Angeles, California: ASC Holding Corp.) 89 (10): 10–14. ISSN 0002-7928. 
  31. ^ Glover, Anne (2008-10-16). "Critics cry foul over DirecTV ad featuring dead girl". Scripps Howard News Service. Cincinnati, Ohio, US: E. W. Scripps Company. Archived from the original on 2011-08-05. http://www.webcitation.org/60iSc98kv. Retrieved 2011-08-05. 
  32. ^ "Q & A with Stuart Elliott". The New York Times (New York City, US: Arthur Ochs Sulzberger, Jr.). 2008-10-27. ISSN 0362-4331. OCLC 1645522. Archived from the original on 2011-08-05. http://www.webcitation.org/60iQqjtTh. Retrieved 2011-08-05. 

External links

Films
Television series
Related topics